SELF DEFENSE
or, death of some salesmen
Synopsis
Seven white men have been found dead along I-95 in Florida. A prostitute is arrested and charged with their murders. The police say she's a serial killer. She claims seven separate acts of self defense. Inspired by the true story of Aileen Wuornos, SELF DEFENSE or death of some salesmen is a whirlwind seven acts in 95 minutes. The play is fast and furious, shocking and funny, and at its center, a portrait of a very complicated human being. Charismatic, dangerous, damaged, full of love and anger— above all else, she is alive. An investigation of capital punishment, destitution, violence against (and by) women, and whether a prostitute is considered a person under our justice system.
Select Production History
New Georges and Reverie at HERE Arts Centre, NYC
Frank Theatre at The Playwrights Center
Purchase
SELF DEFENSE and other plays, NoPassport Press
SELF DEFENSE or death of some salesman, Playscripts
Reviews
"Stunning and compelling...raw and bold, brutal and ironic, and full of nagging questions. Whereas the film Monster dealt with the more sensational aspects of Wuornos' Florida killing spree, SELF DEFENSE...lashes out at the twisted society that turned her trial into simply another media-driven circus." - Ed Kaufman, The Hollywood Reporter
"The West Coast premiere of Carson Kreitzer's 2001 fantasia about executed murderer Aileen Wuornos is stunning, true political theater with a visceral punch. SELF DEFENSE, which concludes Kreitzer's 'Women Who Kill' triptych, pulls no punches… The scorching issues raised by SELF DEFENSE defy simple response, but the airtight forces voicing them here are no less complex in their excellence." - David C. Nichols, Los Angeles Times
"Like a playful documentary filmmaker, Kreitzer treads along various genres: police story, courtroom drama, confessional monologue, and feminist tract... Kreitzer's smart, gritty script whips between locations, interlacing scenes and providing multiple perspectives." - David Cale, Time Out New York